Mets alarms go off as Lucas Duda sits after shots

New York Post

25th February 2017

PORT ST. LUCIE — Lucas Duda’s spring is off to a troublesome start. The Mets first baseman was absent from the lineup in his team’s exhibition home opener Saturday, a day after he received a cortisone injection in each hip, according to manager Terry Collins.

Duda missed most of last season with a stress fracture in his back, but Collins said it’s unclear if the latest injury is related. The Mets are hopeful Duda will resume baseball activities later this week. Collins said he has spoken to Neil Walker and Jay Bruce about taking grounders at first base starting next week.

Wilmer Flores and Dominic Smith saw action at the position in the Mets’ exhibition loss to the Nationals. Could David Wright be an option at first base? “We have got to wait to see how he throws,” Collins said. “But, yeah, there is the possibility that when he starts taking grounders we might flip him over and let him take some at first base, too.